April 2014 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 1 GCC Internal Driver Training Program INSIDE THIS ISSUE Health Tracks Community Involvement IN EVERY ISSUE Service Anniversaries Employee News SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST Internal Driver Training Program Focus on Education We are very excited to announce that over the course of 2014, Gilchrist Construction Company will be launching several formal internal training programs for our existing workforce to include, but not limited to: CDL Drivers Equipment Operators Skilled Crafts The goal is to continue to build a safe, skilled workforce through formal training and to offer enhanced career opportunities for our existing employees. We began this initiative by offering an internal 4 ½ week CDL Driver Training Program. GCC launched this internal training program on Monday, April 14, with 4 students: Anthony Ruiz Seth Gordon Errick Bennett Lisa Blakely The program objective, prerequisites, educational curriculum, and licensing requirements were identified. All classroom, CBT, and driving skills instruction take place on-site at GCC and during GCC production operations. Dave Armstrong is facilitating the classroom portion, and our Transportation Team Leads will be assigned as mentors for the basic driving skills training. of our transportation team as a licensed Commercial Driver! We would like to especially recognize the Asphalt Division Team and the members of management listed below for their support of this process. Our pilot program students are promoting from these crews. The managers listed below deserve special recognition; not only did they hire and develop great folks, they have been actively engaged in the promotion of the students into the CDL training program. Curnest Guillot Mark Gardner Shane Guillot Matt Armand Ryan Hazelton Thanks to Dave Armstrong, Mark Dubea, and Christina Goodrich for their great work in developing this program. Again, this program is the first of several that we will be launching to train internal employees to safely and permanently staff skilled roles in our organization. Valerie Aymond, Chief Resource Officer To identify potential program candidates, our HR team reviewed our current workforce using multiple criteria including employment tenure, NCRC Work Keys assessments, and good driving records. These folks were invited to come in and interview for participation in the program. Once accepted, the employee participates in the program on a full-time basis for the 4½ week period. Upon graduation, the employee will join the ranks Left to right: Anthony Ruiz, Lisa Blakely, Errick Bennett, Seth Gordon
Safety Leadership Training Jobsite Updates Thanks to everyone who participated in our 1st quarter Safety Leadership Training. We had good participation and are most appreciative to John Moore, with Marsh for coming in to facilitate this great program. The following folks will receive credit for the "The Art of Engagement" on their matrix (SKA 10.01.175) and the class will also populate on their résumé. Wayne Stalsby Don Mercer Jarred Williams Farron Gourdon Anthony Jordan Curtis Schultz Richard Ferguson Greg Hagar Chad Bordelon Dirk Fontenot Farrel Thomas Brandon Trahan Kane Gagnard Roger Dunlap Alsey Lachney Phillip Bordelon Kelly Knight Butch Mackey Josh Bordelon Randy Tyler Kenny Emrick Greg Branch Kevin Grage Brad Stevenson Jeremy LaPrairie John Paul J.J. Hickey Billy Harris Curnest Guillot Rick Fanara Greg Reynaud Brian Hattaway Jerry Burnaman Matthew Armand Greg Sidney Mickey Gauthier Carl Bell Tip Whiddon Jimmy Lachney Bridget Johnson Todd Desselle Davis Bordelon Vernita Montgomery Tommy Dauzat Mark Gardner Denise Winn Matt Castille Marc Dinnat Ronnie Ardoin Donovan Armand Roger Guillot Debbie Humphries Tommy Lachney Gilbert Haynes Jeff Smith Kodie Brouillette Harvey Dixon Donald Tipton Tim Wallace Daymond Brister Kent Burnaman Shane Guillot This course, along with February session, "Controlling Soft Tissue Injuries" (SKA 10.01.154) that Travelers facilitated in February will complete our 2014 1st quarter Leadership Safety Training. As an organization, we successfully completed 524 man hours of training across our management/leader ranks. Thanks to all of you for your support and participation. Our safety progress and numbers tell us we are doing the right things Keep the focus! NEVER TOO YOUNG TO LEARN AT GCC No age discrimination when it comes to training at GCC. Arris Faith Fontenot, 10 months, helps Dad Dirk review Job 1179 plans.
Equipment & Transportation Appreciation & Safety Thanks to everyone for their participation in our quarterly Equipment and Transportation Employee Appreciation and Safety Lunch. We had a great turnout; good participation, door prizes, wellness prizes, and a healthy lunch. Most importantly, we reviewed 2013 safety trends and celebrated our positive progress. Thanks to all of our teams for your great work. A special thanks to our friends at Despino's Tire for coming out in the cold weather to prepare a great meal. Valerie Aymond, CRO
Health Tracks Community Event Heart Walk Lunch & Learn Kourtny Bratton, with the American Heart Association was the guest speaker at our February lunch & learn. She spoke on the importance of heart health and the upcoming Cenla Heart Walk. American Heart Association s Heart Walk The American Heart Association s Heart Walk was held at Big Island in Alexandria on March 8th. It was a beautiful day and there was a great turn out for the walk. I am very pleased to announce that we received an award for the most online registered walkers. It was exciting to see Gilchrist recognized at such a large event. What a great way to show CENLA that GCC supports healthy living for employees and family members. We also received 4 th place in the t-shirt contest. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the U.S., and physical inactivity doubles the risk. This is a scary thought when you realize we spend the most of our waking hours working. But all is not lost! Participating in GCC s Health Tracks program can change that! A huge thanks to all of you that gave up your Saturday morning to support GCC s team and to be physically active while doing it. It was so exciting to see all of you walking and several of you running. EXCELLENT job! Amy Sonnier, GCC Wellness Coach
Construction Technology Course Students Job-Shadow at GCC February 26, 2014 Many thanks to all of our partners for participating in the student job shadowing project at GCC yesterday. We hosted three past and present students of our Construction Technology Course at Alexandria Senior High School. Students Kaleb Bolton, Travis King, and Tyrin Easley came in to spend some time with us. The students had a full morning of job shadowing and learned more about exciting careers in the construction industry. Mark Dubea did a great job of championing the effort and planning the event. Transportation Recruiter & Educator, Dave Armstrong, conducts a pre-trip, post-trip inspection with CTC students. Greg Reynaud, Equipment Manager, inspects our Asphalt Paver, unit AP257, with CTC students. GCC Asphalt Quality Control Team (Ryan Coutee, Curtis Schultz, Mark Ponthier, Mike Poole, Tony Garza) and ASH CTC students (Travis King, Tyrin Easley, Kaleb Bolton) work in the Lab at the Asphalt Plant. GCC Asphalt Plant Manager, Anthony Jordan, provides a tour of the Control Tower to CTC students. Thanks to all GCC teams who participated; it was certainly a group/ team effort. Human Resources Project Planning Team Bridge Structures Asphalt Plant Operations and Quality Control Equipment and Transportation Safety and Risk Management GCC Bridge Structure Field Manager, Tommy Dauzat, explains the bridge template-building business to CTC students. Thanks as well to our partners at The Orchard Foundation, Diamond B Construction, and Alexandria Senior High School. We appreciate your partnership in pursuing the GCC Core Purpose of "working together to improve ourselves, our industry, and our communities."
Service Anniversary Milestones 3 0 Y E A R S March Wayne Stalsby 1 0 Y E A R S March Matt Castille 5 Y E A R S January Bill Bowman Amy DeSelle February Gary Hattaway Jesus Rubio Dates to Remember Health Tracks Fruit & Veggie Challenge April 28-May 25, 2014 Alexandria Museum of Art, Dragon Boat Races May 10, 2014 1st Quarter 2014 was definitely a cold one to remember. Thanks to Christina Goodrich for snapping this snow day picture!